Depredador: Tierras salvajes

It's finally here, a Predator movie that doesn't take itself too seriously, yet remains incredibly well-made and thoroughly entertaining, Dan Trachtenberg, who already delivered the most serious and still the best Predator film to date with Prey, is clearly having a blast with Predator: Badlands, from the very first scene, the movie hooks you with one of the most exciting and promising intros in the franchise.

This is the closest we've ever gotten to seeing the Predator as an actual character, complete with personality, language, and depth, and it works remarkably well, adding to that, Elle Fanning is a great addition to the film, and the little creature named Bud also brings unexpected charm to the film.

Besides being one of the most excitingly entertaining films of the year, Predator: Badlands, in my opinion, the most wholesome buddy cop movie i've seen in a while, the beautifully shot, vast, and dark Predator world gives off Dune vibes for me, while the introduction of fascinating new creatures evokes a touch of Avatar, i genuinely adore the world building they've did in the film, it's visually stunning.

The action and fight sequences are exciting, and the Predator is as badass as ever, while the pacing slows down in the second half, overall, Predator: Badlands is pure fun, exciting, and wildly entertaining, i wouldn't mind another installment, as long as Dan Trachtenberg returns to direct it, because honestly, the best Predator movies are the last three, all under his direction.

I had such high hopes for this movie after Dan Trachtenberg drag the Predator franchise out of the gutter and restored it to its former glory with Prey. Well if Pray was Star Wars, Badlands is Episode II: Attack of the Clones. They tried to inject a lot of humour into this movie which just didn't work for me, and I didn't feel it should have had a place in this movie. I found some of it just ridiculous. The story is actually very good and could have been epic in the same way Prey was. Prey is an incredible movie in so many ways and I was expecting Badlands to be the same, sadly, for me it wasn't. There are good elements in this film such as gaining some insight into the Predators home world and culture. I also though Elle Fanning was fantastic in this movie. If Badlands had taken itself more seriously I would have liked it a whole lot more. I don't actually think the fault lays with Dan Trachtenberg This is a 12A in the UK and I'm pretty sure Disney were trying to make it appeal to children. So once again Disney take something wonderful and completely destroy it. I'd love to see Dan Trachtenberg original script and not the Disneyfied version.

Predator: Badlands opens a rare window into the inner world and culture of the Yautja. It succeeds at nearly everything it attempts: introducing fresh monsters, exploring Weyland-Yutani robotics, and expanding the universe in interesting ways.

That said, the film leans a bit too heavily into emotional themes such as trauma, family bonds, and even the feelings of synthetic beings. While these elements add depth, they sometimes feel redundant.

Still, the movie is undeniably fun. Just don't expect it to recreate the raw atmosphere of the original Predator 1987, that lightning-in-a-bottle moment is gone forever, same thing can be said for Terminator franchise.

...that's because the Predator has gone through Disneyification: make it more humorous and palatable for children, making the Predator safe enough to watch as a family viewing, yeah I know it sounds ridiculous!

It was like a marvel superhero film mixed in with sci-fi adventure and the typical marvel like coming of age tale for a young superhero. Certainly doesn't capture the horror and tension of Predator 1, 2 or even Predators (2010), if that's what you were hoping for, but it was never built up to be like that. At best, I appreciate there's another different and decent take on the Predator franchise (just like Predator: killer of killers), too much of the same can be boring.

I think Prey is better with it's story and soundtrack (and wish it was released in the cinema). Predator Badlands mildly expands on the lore, the main two actors perform their roles well and the film is a nice visual spectacle, minus the heavy and noticeable CGI. Though none of this is worth paying a premium screen for (I saw it in a isense screen) let alone rush out to a normal screen. You won't miss out if you wait for it on streaming. 6/10, it was a different and decent take on the Predator franchise but I don't think it's memorable or has rewatchability like 1, 2, Predators and Prey. Predator Badlands is a one time watch.

The recent films have completely lost the suffocating horror and nerve-wracking tension that defined the first two entries. It feels like the writers no longer understand the true essence of the Yautja. In the original film, it wasn't just a mindless killer - it was a calculating hunter. Remember how it used its toxic dart to paralyze its prey before firing the plasma caster? Its weapon wasn't just for destruction; it could adjust its power and precision. That level of detail made the Yautja terrifying - a cold, silent, methodical predator who hunted one victim at a time, unseen, and only revealed itself when absolutely necessary or when its cloaking device was damaged.

Sadly, that cold-blooded patience and ritualistic style of hunting are gone in the newer installments. The creature feels more like a generic monster than the disciplined hunter that once embodied fear and intelligence. I truly hope Jim and John Thomas return to write, and that John McTiernan steps back into the director's chair. Only they can restore the primal fear, intensity, and cinematic tension that made Predator legendary.